All Purpose Donkey Kong Thread

[LiveStudioAudience]

New Nintendo Today App, has DK making some funny faces, BUT WE HAVE A REMIX OF RAMBI'S THEME FROM FREAKIN DK64 pic.twitter.com/lLIphG3qSa

— Sxips(Kremling Detective) (@sxips) April 26, 2025

Huh.

 

[LiveStudioAudience]

Appropros of nothing, but I just finished my first all KONG letters and puzzle pieces run of Tropical Freeze via new Funky Mode and it has slightly increased overall view of it. In hindsight I was a little hard on Sea Breeze Cove as the non-swimming oriented levels in the world (close to half of them) are actually quite strong. The pacing in the second half of the game in general is better paced than I recall from my last playthrough and I think I let the dubious impression of the longer deep-sea stages color my opinion of world 4 rather unfairly and it is a decent stretch of the game, with highs better than something like Caverns in Returns.

Speaking of DKCR, doing a recent playthrough of that does make me better value the strengths of TF all the more; with the mine cart and rocket barrel stages coming off as so much fairer and the bosses just feeling more organic than the ones in the former title. The returning stages in DK Island also hit a lot more thanks to experiencing them recently in Returns and thus appreciating the cool transformations Tropical Freeze did with them. I would say the 3DS/Switch bonus levels in Returns feel a bit stronger than those in TF, possibly because it feels like a nice summation of the whole game rather than just some additional tough levels.

Overall, it feels nice to have gotten closure on both Retro titles. I'll go back to them someday, but for now it feels like I've gotten an honest experience with the duology and can generally fully recognize the flaws they have while genuinely appreciating just how good they were away from the needless waggle of 2010 and the unfortunate context of the Wii U in 2014 (or the worry about DK's future circa 2022-2024). Just need another run through DKC3 before Bananza out and I think all the critical Country titles will have been recently finished.

 

[LiveStudioAudience]

As someone about 75% done with a DKC3 re-playthrough, I think I do have to echo the content creator Geek Critique's (more recent) general thoughts on it. The biggest flaw of it isn't the more gimmicked levels, Kiddy, the lack of DK/Diddy, or even certain emphases in aesthetic. It's the fact that the initial two worlds while fine and even charming in some ways, don't feel like they do justice the more interesting and explorative aspects of the game. Lake Orangatanga & Kremwood Forest are serviceable worlds, and the individual levels are solid enough, but it doesn't really feel like anything really pops until Cotton Top Cove and Mekanos.

Kongo Jungle/Monkey Mines benefited from being visually striking settings while Gangplank Galleon/Crocodile Cauldron pulled either strong off kinetic stage design or really strong aesthetic levels themselves. The first two of DKC3 by contrast almost feel a little too cozy with the lakefront, mill, riverbank, and woods backdrops all working as comfortable environments, just ones that really don't stand out that much. Same with the gimmicks for stages themselves which are all fine and don't feel off while also not really grabbing players with particularly exciting level concepts, Barrel Shield Bust Up aside.

I suppose in some fashion it could be argued they work in easing the player into the Northern Kremisphere region overall and that there is a logic in not playing DKC3's hand too early. For me though as someone that likes of the sense the Kongs going into the unknown and theme of weird experiments being done to mooks/baddies, that identity feels far better serviced by the rest of the game. It almost as if it feels like a basic Donkey Kong Country sequel in the first 25% of the experience, but only really becomes Dixie Kong's Double Trouble after that.

 

[Thegameandwatch]

Diddy Kong got redesigned which is shown in the Nintendo Switch news app. An example is how the Nintendo text is seemingly removed from his hat.

 

[Wario Wario Wario]

Diddy Kong got redesigned which is shown in the Nintendo Switch news app. An example is how the Nintendo text is seemingly removed from his hat.

Might be a hot take but uhhh.... good riddance to the Nintendo hat. It just feels a bit out-of-place as such a detailed but small element on the character design, which is otherwise made up of super simple shapes. Seems ot be his pin from the Mario Movie now

Can anyone who has watched this movie more than once in a HD format tell me if the pin says "DD" or "DK"? The latter would be really cute, even if it would kinda contradict some earlier games.

 

[Thegameandwatch]

good riddance to the Nintendo hat. It just feels a bit out-of-place as such a detailed but small element on the character design

It’s like how Dixie Kong inconsistently had a Rare pin in the SNES era for presumably the same reason.

 

[BonafideFella]

Can anyone who has watched this movie more than once in a HD format tell me if the pin says "DD" or "DK"? The latter would be really cute, even if it would kinda contradict some earlier games.

it MUST read dd - the edges are particularly rounded off, though again that scene takes place with a SWATH of nameless kongs wearing donkey kong's initials so it could be both!
i kinda wish they added the yellow trim from the movie, but that might clash more in practice -

 

[Gorgonzales]

I like the new Diddy. He looks rounder overall and is shaped like a friend. Looks great!

I especially like how the Kongs seem to always have their teeth visible now, instead of them being pseudo-retractable. It makes their designs more consistent.

If the Nintendo logo really is gone, I'll miss it. It's not the end of the world, but it was a detail I always noticed as a kid and appreciated.

 

[Louie G.]

Not sure how popular this stance is, but since it's been applied to Diddy now I feel like it's worth talking about. I prefer the Kongs with teeth. I recognize the older DK model looked strange with it because he wasn't designed with that in mind, but around Smash 4 I really started to think this looked odd too.

One of Donkey Kong's most prominent features in his original design is his toothy Bluto smile. When I draw DK myself, it's something that I'm inclined to focus on. I'm personally glad that the new design opts to bring back this element, because it feels like perhaps the most essential trait that the Rare design chose to abandon entirely. As much as I love our old friend Rare DK, detached from my nostalgia I think this is just an objectively good decision.

 

[Gorgonzales]

Not sure how popular this stance is, but since it's been applied to Diddy now I feel like it's worth talking about. I prefer the Kongs with teeth. I recognize the older DK model looked strange with it because he wasn't designed with that in mind, but around Smash 4 I really started to think this looked odd too.

View attachment 402733 View attachment 402735

One of Donkey Kong's most prominent features in his original design is his toothy Bluto smile. When I draw DK myself, it's something that I'm inclined to focus on. I'm personally glad that the new design opts to bring back this element, because it feels like perhaps the most essential trait that the Rare design chose to abandon entirely. As much as I love our old friend Rare DK, detached from my nostalgia I think this is just an objectively good decision.

View attachment 402734

Yeah I definitely agree. In Bananza gameplay you can also see that his teeth are visible even when his mouth is open.

The inconsitency with the old design's mouth always bothered me. These two screenshots are from the same trailer. I'm glad the teeth are always visible now, it makes for a much more consistent and appealing design. The ties to Arcade DK are just the cherry on top.

 

[~ Valkyrie ~]

He is back, and about time too, because oh boy, were we missing you.

Diddy Kong

View attachment 402731View attachment 402732

I like the new Diddy. He looks rounder overall and is shaped like a friend. Looks great!

I especially like how the Kongs seem to always have their teeth visible now, instead of them being pseudo-retractable. It makes their designs more consistent.

If the Nintendo logo really is gone, I'll miss it. It's not the end of the world, but it was a detail I always noticed as a kid and appreciated.

The rounder chubbierish look is certainly an update - though I hope it's not too clashing with his intended original design sensibilities signifying his nimble and acrobatic player character archetype.

Overall though? I'm digging it.! It almost feels like it has possibility to be pretty expressive too- (not that old Diddy wasn't already)!

The Nintendo-cap was the last remnant of pair combo distinguished by him and Dixie with her Rare-pin - since seeing that gone eons ago, I'm surprised we got to see Diddy's cap last as long as it did.


In whole though, as unceremonious as this was... I'm very happy to see Diddy shown much earlier than we all thought. Makes me grown bit more hope that we'll be seeing possibly revealed in Bananza and Mario Kart World soon.

 

[Louie G.]

The Nintendo-cap was the last remnant of pair combo distinguished by him and Dixie with her Rare-pin - since seeing that gone eons ago, I'm surprised we got to see Diddy's cap last as long as it did.

If the movie is any indication, I suspect Dixie will probably get a pin back on her beret next time she appears too. So it’s nice how that unifying design element will be restored in some way or another, just without the branding I suppose.

 

[fogbadge]

honestly apart from the hate I couldn't spot the differences until the side by side

 

[~ Valkyrie ~]

If the movie is any indication, I suspect Dixie will probably get a pin back on her beret next time she appears too. So it’s nice how that unifying design element will be restored in some way or another, just without the branding I suppose.

Pin is nice to see back on her, even without the brand. (It looks to have a more shield-like design to emblazon her initials.)

Her beret kept feeling bit empty without it quite a while - so it's gonna be nice to see it back. Looks also like it's gonna be on right side too like her old design. Nice attention to detail.

Not sure how popular this stance is, but since it's been applied to Diddy now I feel like it's worth talking about. I prefer the Kongs with teeth. I recognize the older DK model looked strange with it because he wasn't designed with that in mind, but around Smash 4 I really started to think this looked odd too.

It's kind of ironic too as I look back on how DK's Country-design had taken it's sensibilities from Battletoads - who were often shown to sport very big, cartoony grins in boxarts and like. Took really long time for 'em enough.

 

[Thegameandwatch]

Makes me grown bit more hope that we'll be seeing possibly revealed in Bananza and Mario Kart World soon.

My opinion is that Diddy Kong is an NPC in Bananza while he is either a secret character or DLC in the latter.

I said NPC since I assume it will be similar to Luigi who inconsistently playable in the 3D games while being completely absent in the original 64 and Sunshine.

 

[NintenRob]

I'm leaning damsel in distress for Diddy Kong

 

[Thegameandwatch]

I'm leaning damsel in distress for Diddy Kong

Wouldn’t be the first time since it happened in DKC3 alongside DK.

 

[Perkilator]

God, I love how expressive DK is in Bananza. I seriously hope the next Smash game uses his new design and retains that level of personality.

 

[LiveStudioAudience]

Something I'm just realizing now is that DK's redesign is much more appealing to me when he's near the other Kongs, especially Diddy. In a vacuum/by himself I'm kind of indifferent, but something about interaction with the usual gang just really improves the whole aesthetic. I almost wonder if that's why I've been neutral on so much of the Bananza footage with DK barring a few small exceptions; I need to really see him doing more with Cranky and company to really improve my general opinion on his look.

 

[chocolatejr9]

This might be a hot take, but the more I look at these redesigns the more I feel Nintendo updating their looks was the right call. Don't get me wrong, the Rare designs are iconic, but the Mario franchise as a whole seems to be moving to a more expressive style, and the original looks don't seem to fit that IMO. Again, hot take, but I needed to get that off my chest.

On that note, though, I AM curious how the other Kongs might look now, assuming they also get redesigns. Though I feel either way, Cranky would go on a tangent about how modern games are ALWAYS changing the designs of characters...

 

[NintenRob]

This might be a hot take, but the more I look at these redesigns the more I feel Nintendo updating their looks was the right call. Don't get me wrong, the Rare designs are iconic, but the Mario franchise as a whole seems to be moving to a more expressive style, and the original looks don't seem to fit that IMO. Again, hot take, but I needed to get that off my chest.

On that note, though, I AM curious how the other Kongs might look now, assuming they also get redesigns. Though I feel either way, Cranky would go on a tangent about how modern games are ALWAYS changing the designs of characters...

I'm still mixed overall. I think the renders in the classic DK poses are helping me warm up to it, but I'll see in action and sometimes feel it's too silly.

Mind you, Donkey Kong was a character I never gravitated to much anyway. So it's most just getting used to change

 

[Gorgonzales]

I'm predicting that the next time we see Funky, he will be basically unchanged from his last appearance.

This is because Funky's design is without flaw.

 

[NintenRob]

I'm predicting that the next time we see Funky, he will be basically unchanged from his last appearance.

This is because Funky's design is without flaw.

Funky is probably who I'm most curious to see since his design is the most similar to DK.

Especially in Mario Kart where they have almost identical models

 

[Thegameandwatch]

I'm predicting that the next time we see Funky, he will be basically unchanged from his last appearance.

This is because Funky's design is without flaw.

There will likely be differences but the glasses means that it wouldn’t be that noticeable compared to DK.

 

[Louie G.]

I saw someone point out, and you can see it in this particular visual that Gorgonzales posted, Funky is already making use of the more flexible brow that was given to Donkey Kong.

So with that in mind, I don’t think he needs to be changed much. I suppose it’s inevitable that he looks a little different since he generally seems to use DK’s base model but much of the incentive to update DK - making him more expressive, mostly - is a nonissue for Funky Kong. He even has non-retractable teeth!

 

[MartianSnake]

I saw someone point out, and you can see it in this particular visual that Gorgonzales posted, Funky is already making use of the more flexible brow that was given to Donkey Kong.

So with that in mind, I don’t think he needs to be changed much. I suppose it’s inevitable that he looks a little different since he generally seems to use DK’s base model but much of the incentive to update DK - making him more expressive, mostly - is a nonissue for Funky Kong. He even has non-retractable teeth!

Someone at Nintendo saw Funky Kong and was like "dang why can't dk do this with his face" and that's how we got here today

 

[Diddy Kong]

New Diddy design alongside DK is a strong indication he's gonna be used one way or another. Bananza might feature him too, the longer the absence the more strongly I feel Diddy has a special role in it all. Diddy might probably have a role as playable but either unlockable through story progression or DLC down the road.

Kinda expected more of the movie design for him. The movie design Diddy is a little more , I don't know, atlethic? It's subtle but he doesn't have the bigger belly for example and a little more muscular / athletic look. Am fine with how he looks here however. Seems close to the original design.

Just gonna wait and see what happens. Bananza is shaping up to be a great game, hype being almost close to the hype surrounding DK64 back in the day (this game had Smash Bros type of hype backing it before release to those who don't know).

Anyway thanks for tagging me Valkyrie , but I was already watching this thread eagerly. I have been complaining about not having seen Diddy as early as the first trailer, and am now way more optimistic.